Student Stories

People who have received scholarships while attending Houston Community College know firsthand how much a scholarship can help students complete their higher education.

Here are just a few of their stories:

"Even when I wasn’t in school, I was a big advocate of education. I just felt it was out of my reach financially."

Clarissa Durand-Rougely
HCC Scholarship Recipient
Home: Houston

Clarissa Durand-Rougely had always dreamed of going to college. But circumstances led her straight from Alief Hastings High School to the job market.

She did well in her work, and eventually became a software consultant and trainer. But all along she kept thinking about getting a higher education.

“College was always on my mind,” she says. “Even when I wasn’t in school, I was a big advocate of education. I just felt it was out of my reach financially.”

Clarissa was working 50 hours a week, and she couldn’t see a way to dedicate herself to her studies without much of an income.

Finally, she made up her mind. “I took one deep breath, went into my boss’s office and said my spiel, and ran out because I didn’t want to give him an opportunity to dissuade me. This time, I had to do it.”

With the support of HCC Foundation scholarships, Clarissa completed her associate's degree at HCC's Southwest College and went on to continue her studies at Prairie View A&M, where she is conducting sophisticated biochemical research.

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